Kukla's Korner Hockey

Darcy Regier has turned his attention to the future after trading away three defensemen in recent weeks and stockpiling draft picks. We’ll see what Regier has up his sleeve leading into today’s NHL trade deadline. I’m sure he’ll convince Pegula & Co., that he has the answers moving forward even though his team has gone backward.

Barring a miracle, the Sabres will miss the playoffs for the second time in two full seasons under Pegula and the fourth time in six years overall. They had the eighth-highest payroll in the NHL but were 26th overall before playing the Penguins. It’s not working. Forget contending for a title. The Sabres making the playoffs is laughable.

It was evident long before he traded Robyn Regehr. The veteran defenseman was once considered such a valuable commodity that Pegula traveled to Calgary and talked him into waiving his no-trade clause and climbing aboard. In less than two years, with unrestricted free agency looming, he became disposable.

“We’re really going to look toward building this team not just to move it into the playoffs but to go deep into the playoffs,” Regier said. “No one is quite sure of the time line, but we’re certainly going to focus on next season.”